Why Join Crisis Application Group

Crisis Application Group's message has always been the same.  With some of the changes and new look some are starting to ask "what's in it for me?", "why should I join?".  If you're reading this, then you already have an interest and have looked at the new webpage.  If you are out there and have questions of what to do and not sure where to go, well you're at the right place.  

Started by a retired Green Beret who noticed that the Quality basic information and understanding of how to survive in a crisis was limited and almost non-existent.  It has since morphed into a diverse community who all bring their own special knowledge and experiences.  We work to support each other before, during and post crisis.  
During the 2018 hurricane season virtually all our teams self-engaged to support the teams who were being affected by the storms.  Post storms, teams physically and remotely deployed to the affected areas to offer knowledge, resources, and support.  CAG has team members who are still working to support storm relief in Puerto Rico.

It Takes a Village

The first rule of CAG is family first.  

Secondly is that it takes a village.  The misconception of the tin foil hat wearing hermit who lives with piles of ammo in his living room couldn't be further from he truth.  We foster an environment only for mature law abiding members who are self motivated and wish to promote a positive learning environment.  CAG can proudly say we have a career diverse membership that has a deep bench of knowledge.  Members know that when asking for help that the village is there and ready to help however they can.  

We also work with geographical located groups called A-teams.  These are members who have identified their location, train together and have set up an intercommunication system with each other to work as a team during a crisis.

Sourced Information

While we work hard to make information public and available to those who need it, we also provide our members with in depth, well researched, factual information that relates to current needs.  Our published articles use open sourced information and come from reliable data providers and most times are double checked with an alternate authority.  

Intelligence

Access to sources and experts sets CAG apart from other groups out there.  For our members, we have vetted experts who either are nationally recognized or are leaders in their disciplines and communities.  These experts come in with the knowledge that they are there as a reference and teaching resource and are willing to answer any questions that may relate to their expertise.  

All are welcome

Most importantly here is what we ARE NOT!!  

We are a-political we do not endorse any one political belief.  

The same goes for lifestyle and religious preferences.  How you want to live your life is your business.  So long as it's within the limits of the law go for it.  We won't judge and our members will accept your preferences.  We ask that it not become points of contention publicly or on our social media platforms.  Violations of this policy are taken offline and dealt with accordingly and quickly.

 

Click here to Join

 

Adjustable Oral Airways

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-64dl3dqHeg&w=560&h=315

For years we have watched clinicians struggle with the traditional airways. Many have stopped utilizing them altogether. We, at NuZone Medical, following American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations, felt that it was time for a new airway. One you could actually work with! We observed the current airways to be difficult to size correctly and insert; thus, making them uncomfortable for the patient. Plus, they do not allow for an easy airway clearance. In addition, if the patient’s Level of Consciousness (LOC) improves, the traditional airways stimulate a gag reflex, which makes it necessary to remove the airway with a potential for reinsertion if a need arises. The Dual-Air® Adjustable Oral Airway provides solutions to many of the above mentioned situations. This adjustable airway is pretty awesome for the field medic. We will be doing some more testing this year but after seeing this at the conference i just wanted to share it with all of you. www.NUZONE.com Crisis Application Group Ready-Sure-Secure www.CAGmain.com #JedburghTargets

If the video fails to load, Click here to watch

Caches are prepositioned resources put in place to support a future activity. Classically we "visualize" them as buried treasure but they don't have to be buried, and we will cover that a little later in this article

What is a cache? Caches are prepositioned resources put in place to support a future activity. Classically we "visualize" them as buried treasure but they don't have to be buried, and we will cover that a little later in this article. Having been to a Special Forces school for this, I'm happy to say this subject is one of my favorites and an area that I have plenty of real world experience. The challenge of this article will be keeping it unclassified, so if there seems to be a "gap" in the flow of the article, accept my apologies up front I'm trying to make everyone happy... Caches have been used for centuries, there's nothing new about them but in todays fast paced disposable world they are usually overlooked as lacking imagination or to time consuming. Of course the big army (or military) as a whole doesn't really use caches, but a cache system doesn't make sense for our modern army. They come complete with supply trains and never really know where the next operation will take place. They are designed for mobility. You however are not.

Learn the basics of land navigation with Green Berets!

You KNOW where you will be staying, working and traveling. A cache network would fit easily into the busiest modern schedule and as we will discuss lighten your bug out loads considerably. Caches are the difference between a 100lbs Bog out Bag (BoB) and a 20lbs BoB. Use caches to offset your emergency weight and have enough that you can afford to lose a few to the elements. Caching is a process not a singular event. Why use them? Caches will drastically offset the amount of weight and equipment required to get from A to B on any map. If established correctly, you could have a cache set up at all of your major check points and if you don't need to contents of the cache, bypass it and save it for later. If you have ever wondered how commandos get away with traveling so light, its because we aren't just moving to a safe area I'm admitting we are cheating, and picking up food and ammo along the way that someone else buried before hand. Like a magician, the trick isn't magic, its the assistant who skillfully positions the tools needed ahead of time when no one was looking.

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[gallery type="rectangular" orderby="rand" ids="2365,2366,2367,2368"] Site selection criteria. Its not good enough to just pick a gnarly oak tree and have at it. In theory you should have dozens of these located all over the place so site selection criteria has to take on a consistent, and more primary role as you develop your network. Consider:

• 24 hour all weather access
• Enough cover and concealment to hide loading and unloading of the cache
• You must have access to the site, and avoid places like banks daycare or municipal buildings that will draw unwanted attention (or security footage) of your activities. There's nothing illegal about caches, but it doesn't look good hiding in the bushes of a children's park.....
• Will it develop? Will your cache be a burger king next year?
• Anchor points. If the cache site proper doesn't have good visual markers it may make sense to identify a reference point nearby. For instance, 3 yards due north of the North East road sign at the intersection of Mayberry and main St.
• Anchor stakes. It may not make sense to map directly to a cache, if that's the case map to a tent stake with a string leading you to the buried goods. Experiment with different methods.
• Always consider that SOMEONE ELSE will have to service the cache. Don't assume you will be the one who is unloading the goods. What if you're hurt? or busy saving lives? Don't assume the tree you picked is unique enough for a stranger who has never been there to pick out of the crowd.

Types of caches. I like to build caches based on themes so that's what ill discuss in this article. Most of my caches are simple food and water 24 hour kits, small and easy to hide. I have 1 large cache, that remains unmarked and only I know where it is that contains everything I need to start over... I bury this early and let it season in the elements. Consider:

• Support cache. Food, water, clothing and medical supplies.
• Action Caches: Ammunition and "other" supplies, just in case I get disarmed.
• Recovery cache: Important documents, cash, food, water, ammo, perhaps a weapon, family pics you name it. If your house burned down right now, what would you need?

You can build and camouflage caches out of anything, you're limited only by your imagination. Just make sure they are double weathered sealed. Consider using packing grease when storing working "metal" parts for long periods of time and using metal containers for water. Metal containers don't leak into the water like plastic bottles do. How to organize them into usable networks. Its all about the mapping. I break my mapping down into useable blocks that are easy for family members to follow and understand. There are 3, maybe 4 basic sketches you need to learn:

1. Macro Sketch. Think state with multiple ports of entry like airports or interstate intersections. This way my cousin Earl can drive in and find his way around.
2. Navigator Sketch. Now that Earl has his bearing from the macro sketch, its time to get him to the area where the cache is. This is the street map level sketch that references the major ports of entry from the previous sketch, BUT gets you to the road intersection where the actual cache is located. Google maps works well here, and several navigator sketches can be support by a single Macro sketch.
3. Micro Sketch. Now that Earl is at the right intersection, he needs to know exactly where to dig. This sketch should have the precise pace count and reference points required to walk right up to the cache and it should also include any pertinent details the user needs to know: Police station near by, bring a shovel, service between this hour and that, etc....
4. Point of view (POV) sketch. In some cases a site may require a perspective as if seen from the person performing the task, this is the case when the person loading and unloading the cache is face with multiple but similar choices in a given are. For instance multiple paths or multiple telephone pole. It doesn't hurt to include one in every report, but frankly they aren't needed unless you gauge the circumstances to warrant the work.

Here's an organization example of how I set up my cache mapping:

• Macro (2GA1FEB2015)
  • Navigator Bug out (Husbands work and home)
    • Micro (Support) GA323-01
    • Micro (Support) GA323-02
    • Micro (action) GA323-01a
      • with POV
    • Micro (Recovery) no mapping
  • Navigator Bug out (Wife's work and home)
    • Micro (Support) GA324-01
    • Micro (Support) GA324-02
    • Micro (Support) GA324-03

I would keep all of these in a book and even supplement the data with a Google earth maps overlay. Ideally when I forward a cache I want the information as simplified as possible yet accurate. This way in a pinch I could simply "text" it to someone and send them on their way.

Green Beret moderated forum for only $1 a month!

Under this organization I can group my caches and maps into zones, and maintain an underground supply network that supports multiple family members in different locations, perhaps a child in college and so on. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" type="rectangular" ids="2353,2355"]

Mapping.

Mapping is the trickiest part of all of this. Caches are aren't any good if YOU are the only one who can use them. But for OPSEC or data reasons you may not have access to accurate enough mapping to make this work. So make your own! [gallery type="rectangular" ids="2360,2361,2362"] The trick to this is finding the right amount of detail with out over crowding your work. Practice this amongst your own group to see what I mean. Have one person draw a map to an unknown location, and another person navigate to it with out any assistance. Then you will see how your assumption over the obviousness of a particular reference point may not be as obvious as you previously thought. There is an art to it and it must be learned and rehearsed. We wont go to far into mapping in this article, its an article all its own but we will write it up as an addition to this cache piece.

Arizona Defense Supply!

Of course here at CAGmain we offer a wide variety of classes and that includes how to cache. Caching is a hybrid of field craft, administration and art its not just bury MREs in the woods for a rainy day. Play with Geocaching and get a feel for the venue and see what other folks have done. Its fun and family oriented I think you'll like it. Click this link to learn more! As always thank you, and please ask questions!

Hemostatic Gauze Vs. Non-Hemostatic Gauze... There are many types of gauze on the market to choose, from standard gauze rolls to different types of "Hemostatic gauze", which are impregnated in substances to help stop bleeding. Without understanding the differences between a package of compressed gauze, to Combat gauze, Celox-gauze and Chito-gauze, how they work, or even if they work, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you and your medical kits. Here's the breakdown:

Our Special Forces medics are discussing trauma on CAG NET!

Plain (Non-Hemostatic) Gauze:  Often called Kerlix, and coming in "Z-fold" or "S-rolled", or even compressed to take up less space, This is a must and a minimum. While this gauze certainly is not as good as the hemostatic gauzes in terms of controlling severe hemorrhage , It's inexpensive and versatile use make it a must. This isn't just for packing a bleeding wound that a tourniquet can't reach, it can be used as simple bandaging, dressings, stabilizing such as a sling and swathe and so much more. For the low-cost, it's a stepping stone towards hemostatic gauze. I recommend at least 2-3, and more in your house/truck kit, for those areas on your body where a tourniquet can't stop the bleeding, or for a little pressure in an extremity that is not a severe enough bleed to warrant a tourniquet. [gallery size="medium" type="rectangular" link="none" orderby="rand" ids="2327,2328,2329"] Hemostatic Gauzes - For arterial bleeding, don't risk having a non-hemostatic gauze as your Primary choice, you and your loved ones deserve the best shot at survival. What you do for bleeding control for the first few minutes is similar whether you are in an austere environment or 911 is just a few minutes away... If you don't get this bleeding stopped, it will eventually stop when the patient runs out of blood. Unlike previous generations of hemostatic gauze, these do not generate heat or burn.  Here's your choices, and how they work:

1. Combat Gauze:  Combat Gauze is the #1 choice of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research and Committee of T.C.C.C and has earned it's place. It is impregnated with kaolin, which helps the bodies clotting along much greater than using standard gauze. It's got a hefty price tag, but would you rather have a wallet with more money or a heart with enough blood to keep pumping? For a bare minimum medical pack I'd recommend at least 2, because if the first one does not work, you will have to be more aggressive your second time.
2. Celox Gauze - Unlike Combat Gauze, Celox does not help your body itself clot but creates one. This is because when the it comes into contact with blood it creates a gel. What this means in basic terms is if your patient does not have good clotting factors ( Hypothermia, Medications such as Aspirin, etc.) this is a good choice because it works by itself instead of supporting the bodies clotting process. 3.   Chito Gauze - Chito Gauze does not rely on the bodies clotting process, as well. Instead of a gel, it uses the chitosan and dressing to slow down and stick the blood and platelets to create a clot. Again, for those with poor clotting factors, this is a good choice.

[gallery type="rectangular" size="medium" ids="2338,2339,2340"] These are in no particular order, and I'd recommend all 3 as a good decision. While the Military recommends Combat Gauze as #1, their demographic is healthy young soldiers who likely don't have poor clotting factors. Even then, blood loss can cause hypothermia and ruin their clotting factors, making Celox or Chito-gauze an option as well. Now that you know why and how, you can make an educated purchase. Personally im a fan of Chito-Gauze, but I'm also a reasonably trained medic...

All of these products can be found at shop CAG!

A product is only as good as your training, so if you leave it on the shelf, it won't live up to it's potential in a stressful situation. Have a couple non-hemostatic gauze as "trainers" to practice wraps and packing wounds as free drills to keep sharp. You do dry

"Medical and trauma emergencies are the most likely crisis that you and your family will face in any emergency. If we look at the all the recent catastrophes faced by our great nation one thing stands out as the most experienced event; TRAUMA. It doesn't matter if it’s a chainsaw accident, tornado or a gunshot wound. Life happens and you need to have the right gear. "

  A firearm is the first object that comes to mind when an EDC or "Every Day Carry" list is mentioned. While I've seen card sized items and flashlights commonly added to most EDC's since then, there's a vital piece missing. We can agree that our EDC, especially our firearm, is to get through an emergency and protect ourselves and others...  But what if that does not go as planned?

The Boston Bombing: A testament of the effectiveness of tourniquets outside of the battlefield, as well.

In a situation where firearms or other weapons involved, the optimal end result is that the threat is taken down, good guy escapes unharmed. Unfortunately, you and I both know that with the nature of ballistics and a high adrenaline moment of stress, that this may not be the case.   Even if you have to remove your weapon from the holster, you or your loved one may be harmed in the process eliminating the threat, or you may even have shot a bystander in the process. Unless a paramedic is thirty feet away, that person may very well bleed out long before medical attention arrives. That's where your EDC Tourniquet comes along.

 

  Extremity (Arm or Leg) bleeding is the number one preventable cause of death in Trauma Situations, which means this situation is not to be taken lightly. A tourniquet applied properly may save a life in this instance. It's better to use one,  than hesitate and risk exsanguination or "bleeding out." The days of "Don't put it on or you'll lose that limb" are over, studies show that it will take 4-6 hours before permanent damage even begins.  Whether 911 is coming in 15 minutes or you are in an austere situation where help may be delayed or you may have to self-transport, none of that matters if they don't make it through these next few minutes. The decision is clear: Acting now or bleed out on the spot.   That's why I recommend a tourniquet being added to your EDC. Even if you don't carry a firearm daily, Medical injuries are far more likely in an emergency or austere environment than having to draw a firearm. That is why we're going to go over how to use a tourniquet and how to store them. We've already established types of tourniquets so you may make an educated purchase in another guide: Crisis Application Group: C.A.T's eat R.A.T's: Tourniquet Comparisons (CLICK HERE)

Self Aid is a critical skill  

If you can visualize a hole leaking water from a watering hose as the arterial bleeding and the faucet the hose is attached to as the victim's heart, you can know "Why" you're doing it:  the application of the tourniquet is basically you going farther up the hose (artery) to stop water (blood) from coming out. You may waste precious seconds with bandages and direct pressure hoping that fixes the wound. While those methods may be used to slow bleeding, you are going for arterial occlusion meaning the bright red bleeding stops.  "Twist, Twist, Twist the Windlass till the bright red bleeding stops." "Where do I put this thing?"   The CAT and SOFT-T only seem bulky but with a little folding you can make it's silhouette smaller. Personally, I carry at CAT tourniquet on me everywhere I go, and have at least 2 more in the car at all times. That's not even mentioning my medical supplies.

Buy the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT)

  I recommend putting it on your belt, however this is not gospel and your imagination is the limit; You can use pockets, ankle holsters or truly conceal it under a shirt by looping it like a bandolier. With the belt method, you can loop the tourniquet through the belt as shown, using the velcro to your advantage.

  If you're worried about a tourniquet attracting attention on a belt, you can pull a shirt or jacket over it, just as with a pistol but with less chance and worry of imprinting. If you can't get it stable enough, try using thick rubber bands to tie it into the belt. If you still can't get it working or need a more durable container for extended wear and abuse, there are a variety of tourniquet holders that are commercially available that are smooth and keep it in good condition.

CRISIS APPLICATION GROUP

"READY-SURE-SECURE"

In most cases, when catastrophe strikes near or on you, you're going to need some help. Having a few easy to use, easy to store items near by will go a long ways towards effecting a positive outcome during your time of need.

In most cases, when catastrophe strikes near or on you, you're going to need some help. Having a few easy to use, easy to store items near by will go a long ways towards affecting a positive outcome during your time of need. In this article I am going to focus on tools that get you noticed and versatile enough to support most venues you could encounter. Signal Kits: There are plenty of commercially available, low-cost signal kits that will cover most of what you need. Generally they include

some kind of strobe light and signal mirror, but some may come with colored panels. Lets break down basic signal kit items:

• Strobe lights blast bright pulsing light that are easy to distinguish from ambient back ground lighting like in a city, or against a city backdrop. Don't assume you will be somewhere doing any given task, I've seen first hand vehicle accidents just outside of city limits where ambient lighting could and would interfere if you tried to signal with a flashlight. The pulse of a strobe is unique enough that emergency crews would naturally gravitate towards your signal.

• Signal mirrors are tried and true. Even on a cloudy day they can reach out for miles. They work along the same lines of a strobe in that emergency crews can easily decipher a distress pulse from any surrounding light ambience. These are handy in and out of the city and are logistically manageable for the pocket Everyday Carry or EDC.

• Signal Panels work because they offer contrast. That's why certain colors are generally reserved for safety, like orange or neon green/yellow. Of course their being bright helps get noticed but when a bright orange panel is flown it doesn't match anything in the immediate area, and more likely to draw attention to the eye. This is important to understand if and when you're trying to create an emergency panel/beacon in a hurry. Contrast is king...

Signal Flares and pen flares: Flares are great because they generate a tremendous amount of explosive light and can even be used during the day. Of course they burn so use caution, but having said that flares are cheap, safe and readily deployable for almost any venue.

• Road flares have long burns times and require you to create a "clear" area around them so they don't start a fire. Most of them are reusable and are uber handy when you're having a hard time starting a survival fire.

• Pen flares shoot a few hundred feet into the air like a streamer and will broadcast your location thru thick vegetation or over buildings. These are small enough to fit in most pockets and certainly gloves boxes, but take care in aiming and save them for when you actually see the rescuers....You don't want to run out of flares putting on a fireworks display for no one to see!

• Whistles and bangers can be launched from most pen flare sets. If it makes sense to send out an echo against a canyon or city wall, bangers and whistles may be a good addition to your pen flare set. These are also good deterrents for people hiking in the woods where unwanted animal contact is likely...

Beacons: There are three types of beacons used to transmit distress signals, EPIRBs (for maritime use), ELTs (for aviation use), and PLBs (used for land-based applications). I wont go to far into this for this article because its a class all on its own, but NOAA has an excellent article on how they work and how they can be used. Click here to learn more about beacons... SOS: There was a time when SOS was a universal distress code, but this day and age I wouldn't bet my life on it. Having said that it's still a good tool to have in your toolbox. 3 short dots followed by 3 long dashes, followed by 3 short dots spells I NEED HELP! While I'm not suggesting you sit back and bang out code over the radio all day, the SOS can still be used to broadcast a visual signal across the international language barrier as well. If its contrast that gets you noticed, the pattern gets you understood! Build your emergency signals into an SOS with both letters AND dots to increase the likelihood a passerby wont mistake your signal for woodland junk! In this example, notice how the shadow gives contrast which allows this SOS to be seen from much farther away. Use the rule of 3: When you finally think your signal is big enough, make it 3 times larger.... In the prepper community a lot of emphasis is placed on staying hidden and living as a ghost, and for the most part we can agree as long as that makes sense. For the vast majority of Americans out there, being prepared means knowing what to do and having what you need to do it with. This means understanding and accepting that help from rescue units is vital and critical to a well prepared family. This article is intended to explain and validate the use of basic survival items for the average American family and is by no means a comprehensive lesson plan. If you have any questions please feel free to hit us on Facebook or leave a comment below! As always thank you!

[caption id="attachment_200" align="alignright" width="300"] TCCC with CAG[/caption] Naturally before we begin it needs to be said: CALL 911. However since we are a page dedicated to prepping and crisis management, it stands to reason that in this venue there is no 911 or 911 isn't coming. Either way YOU need to act.... Why start with trauma? Trauma is universal to every major catastrophe that's hit the US since 1776. Of course we support learning how to shoot and the myriad of other skills required to stay ready, but trauma is statistically proven to be the most likely event you will 

encounter. Medical skills aren't sexy and tend to be put on the back burner in favor of more glamorous venues. A $2000 assault rifle ISNT going to stop bleeding or manage an airway is it? We get it, medical supplies are expensive and there is an army of "practitioners" who want to keep control over medicine, but that isn't going to cut it for a prepper. What medical program should look into? There are dozens of good programs out there and they all will be great additions to your tool box, but for a prepper nothing can hold a candle to Tactical Combat Casualty Care or TCCC. TCCC was intended to teach a NON TRAINED service members in the military basic life saving skills so you can rest assured your "allowed" to know this. It's also what all of the elite fighting forces use on their teams, this goes for Green Berets, SEALS, PJs, Rangers and so on. Its also designed for an austere venue where evacuation will be delayed or wont be coming at all, again another check in the prepper block. TCCC is backed with mountains of good data managed by Doctors and senior battlefield medics from across the DoD arsenal, this is a solid program for everyone to know. If we ignore the word combat and instead use the word austere, all of a sudden this program makes even more sense. Can you give blood? Can you manage a delicate airway? Can you offer definitive surgical repair? Can you manage a collapsed lung? If the answer is no, then your entire trauma strategy needs to change to reflect this reality. It doesn't matter if it's an enemy force denying you evac or an economic collapse, you're on your own... Where to begin? Start with the assessment. Look at it like the toolbox, and all of the treatments are the tools. Lets focus todays article on the toolbox. [caption id="attachment_340" align="alignleft" width="246"] TCCC trauma assessment[/caption] The TCCC trauma assessment is placed in order of statistic injury patterns that are ranked from the most lethal (short and long-term) to the least lethal. All the "science" you need to know is built into the sequence. When in doubt or you get overwhelmed or lost, just start the assessment sequence over and you'll do fine...

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The sequence: Its easy, just remember MARCHE and treat as you go! [caption id="attachment_344" align="alignright" width="253"] Bleeding was controlled with a ratchet strap![/caption] M-Massive Bleeding. Here you are looking for pooling blood or fast bleeding you can see. We don't care if its bright red or not, those days are gone. You can die from losing venous blood also...If its NOT bleeding, skip it we will come back to it later. Ugly wounds are distracting but if they aren't losing blood (for now at least) they aren't a priority during your initial survey. We need to save as many blood cells and clotting factors as possible and most arteries bleed fast enough to kill you in minutes. This is where TCCC tends to deviate from traditional EMS medicine. EMS hinges on the nearby hospital to manage the internal medicine issues that come with bleeding out like losing the ability to clot and acidosis. Saving as much "clean" blood as possible early on the event will give your patient the best chance at long-term survival when evac may not be coming... Use tourniquets and pack wounds, this is for time so hurry up! [caption id="attachment_347" align="alignright" width="268"] Simple NPA[/caption] A-Airway. Concept: Is the air hole open? It doesn't do us any good to make a patient respire if there is no hole to pass air. While we prefer to teach a modified jaw thrust, we don't have a problem with the head tilt/chin lift technique from your CPR training days. In effect, we are temporarily opening their mouth and we asses "how open" it is by LISTENING for them to breathe. Remember, an airway blockage may not visible from a visual inspection, you still have to look listen and feel for air passage. During this initial survey, consider temporary adjuncts like a nasal trumpet (NPA) or a J-tube (OPA), we like using positional airways, aka the "drunk don't puke roll to the side" technique... [caption id="attachment_349" align="alignright" width="300"] NAR Chest seals[/caption] R-Respirations. This gets confusing with new providers. When we say respirations we intend to examine the mechanical structures that are required to breathe. Namely the chest. For TCCC purposes the chest is front to BACK, Adams apple to navel. Here you will apply seals as needed and check for any broken ribs that could haunt you down the road. IF a patient has a collapsed lung, you wont really notice any one thing jump out at you, things like deviated tracheas and one sided rise and fall of the chest are late and grave signs, don't wait for those... It will be a combined series of symptoms that we use to direct treatment in the field, but that's another lesson in itself. [caption id="attachment_351" align="alignright" width="300"] NAR saline lock[/caption] C-Circulation. Here we will check pulses and other signs of perfusion/circulation, also we will wrap up any other "meat" wounds we skipped over during our initial blood sweep. IF you have the skills and feel the patient could benefit, now's the time to gain IV access, but that's a clinical decision based on your over all patient presentation and skill. Clean up all the boo boos we skipped and anything else we missed. H-Hypothermia/Head injury. Not much you can do for a head injury other that take note of their level of consciousness. This early on information and the progression of symptoms form this baseline will be invaluable to any Docs that see them later. [caption id="attachment_354" align="alignright" width="150"] Inexpensive options are out there[/caption] Always treat for hypothermia. In trauma we aren't as concerned about heart attacks rather its effect on clotting. If you have a patient with internal injuries we want clots, and cold patients don't clot! Even in the summer put a blanket on them. Dead people are cold to the touch, even in summer... Don't look at it like it's a weather issue, look at it like their internal over has been turned off... E-Evacuation. This is obviously your biggest issue as a prepper, or a commando. If we had this we wouldn't be having this discussion! In all seriousness evacuation may be only be delayed. Don't look at SHTF as the only event you need to worry about. Ice storms and tornadoes could delay your 911 evacuation and TCCC will carry the day until they get here. Most of the lives saved during the global war on terror are from non trained medical providers using simple adjuncts early on in the patients injury/evac cycle. What I mean is that untrained providers are proving this system works....Numbers don't lie. CAG also offers a no non sense trauma pack, inventoried by Special Forces medics, with high quality name brand tools to ensure that you have everything you need to your TCCC venue. Clearly labeling in modular cells its designed for the TCCC MARCHE complete with emergency blanket. In addition to the Tier 1 Med Pack we offer the TCCC training to go along with it!

CHECK OUT THE CAG TIER 1 MED PACK

Naturally we recommend taking a class on the subject. Please don't read something online and think you've check the block for medical training. Online programs are great for refresher and developing new strategy, but they simply don't replace the value of hands on skill training with experienced educators. We can recommend a few good online references if you're just interested in getting to know TCCC. As always thank you and follow us on Facebook@ Crisis Application Group! Helpful links:

• http://www.naemt.org/education/TCCC/tccc.aspx
• http://www.usaisr.amedd.army.mil/
• http://www.havokjournal.com/national-security/inside-the-special-operations-combat-medic-course/

Improvised Windlass Tourniquet Use

"The fact is, a good medic can make bad gear work in a pinch." Jay Paisley